Why more countries are targeting livestock methane cuts 

Cutting methane from livestock is one of the quickest ways to slow climate change, as a new United Nations report confirms. A growing number of countries are writing livestock emissions into the national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs, that they submit to the UN every five years.  

In the latest round of NDC pledges, more countries than ever embraced action on livestock for its potential to deliver lower emissions, better farmer livelihoods, and improved food and nutritional security. But to be successful in implementing these ambitions, more investment, coordination and international knowledge sharing are needed. 

Here’s what we found when we reviewed how livestock showed up in 2020 and 2025 NDC submissions.  

How many countries include livestock emissions in their climate plans? 

We found 103 countries that submitted NDCs in both 2020 and 2025. Of that group, 62 contained explicit livestock emissions measures, such as stated goals, projects or plans, in their most recent submissions (referred to as NDC 3.0). This was up sharply from the 42 countries that did so in the previous submission round between 2020 and 2021 (NDC 2.0). 

A total of 24 countries included explicit livestock emission goals in their NDCs for the first time, including Kenya, which pledged improvements to livestock husbandry and management efficiency as part of its agriculture mitigation strategy, and Gabon, which identified better breeding, pasture management and improved animal feed as priority adaptation pathways.  

Notably, only five countries that included livestock in their NDC 2.0 submissions omitted future action on livestock emissions from their NDC 3.0 submissions. Jamaica, for example, expressed plans for capturing manure for biogas in their previous NDC but did not detail progress in NDC 3.0, and Ethiopia shared progress on its NDC 2.0 goals but did not outline next steps. Despite these five countries, we saw a net increase in livestock emissions goals across the board. 

How are countries implementing livestock emissions solutions?  

Countries are pursuing a handful of proven strategies that directly reduce livestock emissions, with an emphasis on methane. Bangladesh and Mongolia have built on their NDC 2.0 plans by adopting methane-inhibiting feed additives and improving the fodder given to their livestock herds in 3.0. Nicaragua and Kyrgyzstan will focus on capturing methane produced from stored manure and using it for energy production.  

Other countries are looking at genetic improvements and health interventions to drive reductions. Bolivia, for example, is breeding for more climate-resilient animals, while Cambodia and Zimbabwe are investing in animal health and optimizing productivity so that less methane is emitted per serving of dairy or meat. 

What’s stopping countries from turning goals into action? 

These examples point to how we can best help countries achieve their climate goals, as many countries — especially low- and middle-income ones — need more funding, policy guidance, institutional capacity and access to technical knowledge to turn their goals into action.  

To bridge this “implementation gap,” we need a broader community of practice where countries share what works with each other. This could mean strategic dialogues at global climate forums, cross-regional research or simply demonstrating what successful implementation looks like. 

The rising ambition across NDCs shows that we’re moving in a positive direction. Countries increasingly see that acting on livestock emissions helps them achieve their climate goals while improving farmer livelihoods and meeting their nutritional needs.  

The next step is demonstrating how to turn this awareness into action. Proving what’s possible can spur other countries to integrate livestock emissions into their own NDCs and achieve positive, lasting impact for their farmers and the planet.